Earthskin

Image credit: Courtesy of The Gallery & Real Happy Pictures

"I propose an artwork titled Earthskin, which explores the intrinsic human compulsion to create. This primal drive has fueled creativity across centuries, transcending the boundaries between reality and imagination. From ancient civilizations to our modern, visually saturated world, humans have consistently created and interpreted images to shape their environments and deepen their understanding of existence.

To investigate this phenomenon, I will use a felting technique to fuse plant, animal, and human-made materials together. This method will create a new hybrid material that challenges the distinctions between these categories. Felting, an ancient craft dating back to the Neolithic era, is particularly fitting for this exploration. It embodies the human ability to transform raw, disparate materials into cohesive and meaningful objects. By preserving the tactile qualities of the plants and blending them with animal fibres and synthetic materials, this hybrid material will evoke an animal pelt, inviting viewers to reconsider the boundaries between the natural and the artificial, the living and the manufactured.

The materials—Common Reed plant tassels, sheep and alpaca fleece, and polyester netting—each bring unique qualities and connotations. Using these elements together will encourage a nuanced exploration of our interconnected world, highlighting the complex web of relationships between humans, plants, and animals. By integrating these ordinary yet diverse materials, I aim to emphasise our responsibility to recognize and respect the intricate network of life forms that coexist on our planet. The act of 'making' this artwork itself becomes a reflection on the paradox of human creativity: our unique capacity to create art that simultaneously sets us apart from and connects us to the rest of the natural world.

The creative process begins with foraging for Common Reed plant tassels, a meditative and reflexive act. Collecting these organic materials invites contemplation of the intricate relationships between species and environments, underscoring the interconnectedness that the finished piece will embody.

In dialogue with the BBC documentary's exploration of human creativity, Earthskin reveals that recognizing our similarities with other life forms can enhance our understanding of what makes us uniquely human. Through this lens, the artwork seeks to foster a deeper appreciation for our interconnected world and our place within it, ultimately celebrating the human drive to create as a powerful force that bridges the gaps between different realms of existence."